At 1 and 3/8th oz. the Whopper Plopper is too hefty for me to throw on any MH bait cast rods I own (MH rods rated up to 3/4th to 1 oz.) ... Since rod sensitivity isn't a requirement for this bait  - what are good inexpensive / best value rod choices for throwing the big 130 size ?

Most of the time I throw my 130 on a 7ft MH H2O Express Ethos rod from Academy Sports but if I'm going to be around heavier cover I'll throw it on their 7ft H rod. You can buy them at Academy Sports for $50-70 range and they are actually good rods too.

BPS Graphite series  muskie casting rod 7' MH 

I use a cheap berkley 7' medium heavy rod that is rated for 1/2-1 ounce baits, going a little over the lure rating never bothered me and it doesn't feel overpowered when I cast my 130 size whopper plopper.

I toss mine on a swimbait rod.  Check out the Dobyns Fury 795SB.  Right around $110 new and great for the WP130

Not sure you can get them anymore, but I use a Berkely Bionix Crankbait rod.  It is only rated for 3/4 oz but works fine.  I can throw the 130 a mile and the bend in the rod helps with the trebles.  Got mine at Fishermen's Factory Outlet.

I use my jig/worm rod honestly, 7'2" HF tatula. Not my ideal choice but it works fine. 

Any heavy crank bait rod should work good, it's a surface lure that only weighs 1  3/8 oz.

Ideally Irod Freds Magic rod @$150 is a good multiple use rod for frogs, small (6") swimbait, big crank baits and your Whopper Ploppers.

Tom

Good suggestions - due to the  lure weight , treble  hooks and the fact I use #40 lb. braid - I am inclined to look for a heavy crank bait or light swim bait rod to throw the Wopper Plopper 130 on .

For an inexpensive rod, it's hard to beat the heavy power Berkeley lightning rod shock IMO. It can definitely handle the plopper and its under 60 bucks retail. It has a softer tip designed for braid that works well with treble and moving baits with mono. They are often on sale at the Walmart stores close to me so definitely check there to get a feel for it and also look because they are often on sale. It's a little tip heavy but if you use it for big cranks, top waters, swimbaits, and light a-rigs then it's not as big a deal since they are tip down techniques anyway

 

Depending how cheap you wanna go the shimano sojourn is pretty decent. I have a 7'h and a 6'6 mh both fast action. I got both for $40 each at my lfs. They will become back ups though as I'm looking to upgrade and try out different rods

Consider an Abu Garcia Veritas 2. They have three versions and all run a bit on the heavier side so you do not want to go to heavy. I would look at a standard series (they have a frog series and a micro series as well)  Look at the 7 foot 6 inch medium heavy which specs as 3/8 to 1 1/4 but could handle way more or maybe the 7'9" 5/8 to 3 ounce.  Try to find them locally to handle them. They should run you around $100 unless you find them on the internet on sale.

I throw mine on my frog rod, a 7' 3" H/F Ethos Micro with 50lb braid. 

Any trouble with the MH / H  frog rod types and braid with the WP 130's treble hooks pulling out easily ? This is where more of a parabolic swim bait / crank bait rod may have an advantage or perhaps it's not that big a deal if the MH  / H frog rod types are working

To throw a frog most frog rods have a bit of a soft tip since the frogs do not weigh much. They transition to a heavier rod quickly in order to handle the fish in the junk. I think they should work fine.